some blame it on a generally gloomy mood among americans especially after the horrible shooting in connecticut. marshall cohen at the mpd group says retailers had problems long before the tragedy. he says, quote, the lack of sales is due to the lack of excitement in merchandise and to blame it on this terrible disaster upsets me. and then of course there's everybody's concern about debt. they're avoiding it. >> christine, delinquency rates that are still very, very low compared to the last ten years. so i don't think that consumers are going wild this year. >> we heard that a lot. finally, it's even been a little slow they say at saks 5th avenue, on 5th avenue in new york city. our producer took these pictures. sw retail advisers says you could, quote, in saks hear a pin drop during a 60% sale going into saturday. but, bill and maria, i was in the very store in new york last week, my first time at saks during this time of the year. if that is slow for christmas, i don't want to know what busy is. i couldn't even get down the aisle. >> by the way, jane wells, you mentioned c's candy. unbelievab